On Feb. 2nd at 4 p.m., the Courts, Intellectual Property, and Internet Subcommittee will hold a legislative hearing to examine H.R. 1057, the Promoting Automotive Repair, Trade, and Sales (PARTS) Act. The PARTS Act limits the term of protection for patented designs of automotive repair parts used to restore automobiles.
Witnesses for Tuesday’s hearing are:
- Jack Gillis, director of public affairs, Consumer Federation of America
- Kelly K. Burris, intellectual property attorney, Burris Law, PLLC
- Pat Felder, owner, Felder’s Collision Parts, Inc.
- Dan Risley, president and executive director, Automotive Service Association
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Subcommittee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) issued the following statements on Tuesday’s hearing.
“Next week, the IP subcommittee will examine the PARTS Act, which reduces the number of years automakers may sue competitors for infringing their design patents for specific car parts that are typically replaced after collisions,” said Goodlatte. “This hearing will weigh the consequences of such a limitation to determine if the PARTS Act strikes the proper balance between protecting existing intellectual property rights under the Patent Act and creating greater competition in the automotive after-parts industry.”
Issa added, “Car repairs are often a necessary but costly process. The PARTS Act seeks to change this by allowing greater car part competition resulting in lower consumer repair prices and enhanced choice. I look forward to hearing from key stakeholders about the impact of this proposal.”
The hearing will be webcast live here.
